You probably know the verse by heart. Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to guard our hearts above everything else. It’s a pretty serious command, but why is it actually important? Check out my thoughts in a new YouTube video.
Click below to watch!
Worship Wednesdays #16 | Here as in Heaven
The profile // about the artist
Elevation Worship
- Contemporary worship music band
- From Elevation Church (Charlotte, North Carolina)
The pull // why i like it
“Here As In Heaven” is a beautiful reminder of the Lord’s Prayer. God’s plan will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven. Plus, just as this song is reminiscent of God’s overwhelming love, the instrumentals itself are so amazingly overwhelming. There’s something assuring and refreshing about the music, especially with the video of live worship.
The message // what it means
Something changes when the Holy Spirit is in the midst. We need a fresh outpouring of the Spirit in our lives as we follow Christ. Our lives and hearts are changed when we let God take control–and this change isn’t a destination but a continual process.
A miracle can happen now
For the Spirit of the Lord is here
The evidence is all around
That the Spirit of the Lord is here
The call // best to listen when
You want to be encouraged by God’s promises and love. His love is enough alone, and He is at work. I love listening to this song alone in my quiet devotional or prayer time.
Prayer…What’s the Point? | Video
If God knows everything, why should we pray? I’ve been asked this question a few times in the past, so I decided to answer it in a new YouTube video!
It’s such an important question to consider, and I’d love to hear your thoughts. What does prayer mean to you? How has it affected your life?
Click below to watch!
How to Hear God: 10 Ways God Speaks | Feature Fridays
Today’s Feature is a sermon about how God communicates with us. A relationship with Him involves two way communication. As we speak to God, He speaks back to us. However, identifying His voice can often seem difficult. I came across this video several months ago, and it completely transformed and challenged how I listen to Him on a daily basis.
It’s a longer video but completely worth the watch. Click below to check it out!
Continue reading “How to Hear God: 10 Ways God Speaks | Feature Fridays”
Worship Wednesdays #12 | Seasons Change
The profile // about the artist
United Pursuit
- Christian worship band
- From Knoxville, Tennessee
The pull // why i like it
A friend of mine introduced me to this band, and I binge-listened to them on Spotify. Needless to say, I was hooked–especially to this song. Its calming melody always brings me into worship and acknowledging God for who He says He is.
The message // what it means
God is faithful and loving, and He is truly enough. Although the world around us, people and circumstances in our lives change, He does not change. His character and promises remain the same, and we can have confidence in that.
“Lord you’ve been faithful to plant the seeds
And you will be faithful to always send your rain”
The call // best to listen if
You need a reminder of who God is. There’s something beautiful in this worship, declaring the truth of His character over and over again…”Though the seasons change, Your love remains.”
He Heard You
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1 John 5:14 (KJV)
At the beginning of the spring semester, a good friend from high school visited me at college.
We kept in contact as she traveled, but after she got off her last train, she sent me a frantic text:
I FORGOT MY PURSE ON THE TRAIN!
She fortunately had her phone in her hand, but everything else, besides her backpack, was left behind.
The first instinct I had was to pray, and I replied to her that I did afterwards.
In the meanwhile, an employee searched the train, and she had gone to the lost and found at the station, but nothing turned up. Despite this, she had a great attitude about the loss, and we still had a fun weekend together. Nevertheless, I was a bit bummed and confused that she hadn’t found the purse, especially since I did believe that God heard my prayer and would answer it.
A few weeks later, I got a message from my friend about something she had forgotten to tell me. Days after she had returned from the trip, she received a package in the mail from someone that contained her purse and everything (including money) still inside it.
When I heard the news, I was utterly shocked and overjoyed. I was happy that she found her purse, and even more in awe that God had answered the prayer–even though I had forgotten about it.
Even when we forget about what we have asked the Lord, He hasn’t forgotten our requests, so we must remain submitted to Him.
Submitting to God means that despite the outcome of our prayers, we will still trust and follow His direction. We can have peace in this, knowing that He knows our needs. He is taking care of us, although He might be doing so in ways we don’t expect.
I had no idea that my friend’s purse would be returned in such an uncanny way, yet the fact that it was completely unharmed made the situation a larger testimony of how God works. She could have found it at the station, but instead, the purse was returned in a way that was out of her control–proving that a bigger miracle was behind it.
God hears every one of our prayers. As we wait on Him, we can have confidence and excitement knowing that He is preparing a great testimony in our lives of His faithfulness.
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Hebrews 10:23 (KJV)
Does Prayer “Work”?
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6-7)
Does prayer work?
Short Answer:
Yes.
Here’s the long answer:
What exactly do we mean when we ask the question: “Does prayer work?”
Most likely, it means, “If I pray to God, will He give what I want?”
If this is why we come to God in prayer, I’d like to encourage us to reevaluate our thinking.
Don’t get me wrong–in prayer, of course we can ask God for things. Philippians 4:6 says to let our requests be made known unto God. In short, God wants to fulfill our needs and desires. As our Heavenly Father, He loves us and wants to supply our needs, and He doesn’t want us to suffer.
I should say–BUT He doesn’t want us suffer.
This means that although we have our own desires, ultimately God knows what we need in our lives and what will harm us beyond human comprehension. The things that may harm us the most may be what we are asking for.
Understand that God’s answer to our requests may not be what we have in mind. The good news is that His answer is always better than what we have in store–even if we don’t see it yet.
It comes down to trusting God. Do you believe God is who He says He is? A loving Father, an all-knowing, all-powerful God? If so, rejoice and be glad, because anything He gives will be a gift that will allow you to be shaped into His image of love, wisdom, and strength. He gives GOOD gifts.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17 ESV)
So what happens when we pray?
Through God, I’ve been shown and fully understand that prayer is a powerful weapon. It is (and should be) our #1 weapon, our first decision–not the last resort.
God has changed my heart and transformed my life through prayer. He restores, He heals, He listens, and He answers. I’ve experienced, seen, and felt these things all through communicating with Him. I like to think prayer is having a dialogue with God, and I still am left in awe of thinking about it this way–to be able to have a constant conversation with an all-knowing God is amazing, especially knowing how weak and limited I am as a human.
I want to invite and urge you to take prayer seriously. This is your answer. You will never go wrong in seeking God.
Just being able to pray to Him is a journey in itself–watch as He will transform your life and how you will learn to surrender and trust Him. Spend time with God.
You might be thinking:
“How can I improve my prayer life?”
Here’s a list of practical things that I do that has dramatically changed my prayer life:
Pray.
No more “I know I need to pray more.” No more “I would pray more if my morning wasn’t so busy.” Instead of thinking or saying these things, actually PRAY. It can be on your walk, in your office desk, in the lecture hall. You have free access to God anywhere and anytime. Unfortunately, today we idealize and idolize “busyness.” Who says you have to be busy 24/7? Society. Maybe parents. Peers. Coworkers. Yourself. But the Bible reminds us about the importance of being still (not restless).
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10 KJV)
(I actually wrote a post on stillness here).
Of course this doesn’t mean don’t do anything you have to do. We have busy schedules, and that’s okay. What’s not OK, is being “too busy” for God. If you feel like you’re at this place, reevaluate some things. Check your heart. What’s the purpose behind the things you “have” to do? Truth is, you’re just too busy with the wrong things.
Be intentional in prayer. Be active in prayer. Be diligent in prayer. Do you love God? Do you want to know what He has in store for you? Do you want to lay down your life for Him? Put Him first. No more excuses.
If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15 KJV)
Keep a prayer journal.
This is actually something I have been meaning to do for a long time, and I finally did this week. It doesn’t have to be anything special–I’ve taken an ordinary notebook and started jotting down prayer requests–as well as how God has answered these prayers.
It’s been amazing to keep track of what and who has been on my heart to pray for–and even more amazing to see how God answers these requests. A prayer journal serves as encouragement for us to look back and see how God actually is working in our lives.
Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; (Psalm 105:5 KJV)
Also, it is so important for us to keep others in prayer. This is true love–for us to ask God to redeem others and to intervene on their behalf–so that they might have the full life that only He promises–and most importantly that they might have eternal life in heaven.
The Bible encourages us to love others as we would like to be loved. Think about how overwhelming it is when we know someone else has been praying for us. Remember to pray consistently for others–those you know and don’t know. Pray by their name, pray specifically about their situation. See how God works.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, (1 Timothy 2:1 ESV)
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16 ESV)
Incorporate Scripture in your prayer.
There is power in the Word of God. It is the source of truth, life and freedom–learn and study His Word to access these things.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)
When we recite Scripture in prayer, we are affirming what God has already said. In Micah 3:6, God affirms that He is Lord and does not change. That means all the promises in the Word that He has said is YOUR portion!
Memorizing Scripture is a lifeline, especially when the enemy attacks you with doubt. Responding with the Word of God is encouraging to us and also will make the enemy flee from you. Why? Because God is powerful, and He has already conquered evil and death.
As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.
(Psalm 18:30 NIV)
Not only do we affirm God’s promises by incorporating Scripture in prayer, but we affirm who He is. That is, that He is almighty and capable of answering our prayers and directing us in His perfect plan.
I like to think of studying the Word as a heart-check. Learning the Word allows us to submit to what God says–and knowing that God is good, we know that doing this is the right choice. But In order to find out who God is, we must go to the source that reveals who He is–the Bible.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)
So, does prayer “work”?
Absolutely. Prayer works on hearts. Prayer works on lives. Prayer pleases God.
I urge you to pray. Cast your cares to God. Let Him heal you and show you wisdom. Praise and acknowledge who God is through prayer.
Ask LizMargaret
Have a Question? Need Advice? Need Prayer?
If you’re looking for answers from a Christian perspective, submit your question here at the LizMargaret Tumblr site, and it might just appear in a future blog post.
Not sure what to ask? Topics you can think about: Relationships, friendships, college, faith/Christian life, and more!
This new series has been something that’s been on my heart for so long now, as I would like for this blog to be a very interactive experience for whoever reads it! I hope it creates a space to engage in conversation that inspires spiritual growth and encouragement.
What do I mean by a Christian perspective? As a follower of Christ, I consider the Bible to be the foundation of my worldview, shaping the way I live my life, so any of the responses I give will be based on the Word.
Please send in any questions, prayer requests, or any topic ideas for future posts–I am very excited to hear from you and to see how God uses this!
Click here to check out all Ask LizMargaret posts and videos!
LizMargaret 